Certification Procedures and Information
The Ohio Supreme Court has adopted rule amendments that outline the procedures to receive Supreme Court certification for a specialized docket program. Under the certification amendments, courts operating specialized dockets are required to submit an application, undergo a site visit, and submit specific program materials to the Specialized Docket Section as part of the certification process. While the standards seek to create a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets, they still allow local specialized dockets to innovate and tailor their specialized docket to respond to local needs and resources. In addition, specialized dockets that comply with the initial stages of the certification process will be initially certified pending a final review. Specialized docket programs are required to be initially certified by January 1, 2014. The amendments also create a new Commission on Specialized Dockets and amend the definition of a specialized docket in the Code of Judicial Conduct. The new commission will be the body that applies the certification requirements and determines which programs are certified.
Certification is granted when the written materials submitted by each court and observations made during the site review demonstrate compliance with the certification standards. Topics that are not expressly set forth in the certification standards are not evaluated.
Specialized Dockets Updates Certification Standards (PDF | MP4)
Specialized Dockets Updates Superintendence Rules 36.20-36.32 (PDF | MP4)
Specialized Dockets Certification Status Sheet by County
Specialized Dockets Certification Status Sheet by Docket
Constitutional Rights of Participants Guidance (March 2021)
Substance Monitoring Guidance (March 2021)
Principles for the Use of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Drug Courts (March 2021)
Adult Drug Court Guidance (March 2021)
Core Components of Domestic Violence Courts: A National Perspective for Ohio Courts (March 2021)
Family Dependency Treatment Court Guidance (March 2021)
Human Trafficking Court Guidance (March 2021)
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidance (March 2021)
Mental Health Court Guidance (March 2021)
Domestic Violence Drug Court Guiding Document (March 2021)
OVI Court Guidance (March 2021)
Reentry Drug Court (March 2021)
Veterans Treatment Court (March 2021)
Certification Submission Guidelines
Specialized Dockets: The Path to Certification Overview
Certification Application (Updated 2021)
Supplemental Application for COVID
Post Final Certification: Maintenance of Certification Materials Form
The Supreme Court of Ohio Specialized Dockets Section Site Review Report
Additional Information for Virtual Site Visit
Frequently Asked Questions Specialized Docket Certification